Polarized electromagnetic relay



Uct. 4, 1949. c. F. MILLER.

POLARIZED ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY Filed Deo. 18, 1945 J0 Ff G 7% wk. E40 44 H g 2-9 45 4Z /6 ZZ Zar. @#26 Patented Oct. 4, 1949 POLARIZED ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY Charles Frank Miller, Frederick, Md., assignor to Price Electric Corporation, Frederick, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application December 18, 1945, Serial No. 635,805

2 Claims.

This invention relates to magnet devices, generally kof the polarized relay type.

This invention has utility when incorporated in a unit comprising a permanent magnet and an electromagnet, with a movable armature adapted to be differently thrown as the electromagnet current direction is reversed.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of an embodiment of the invention in a switch device;

Fig. 2is an end view of the device of Fig. 1, from the left;

Fig.r 3 is a plan View of the device of Fig. 1, portions being removed or broken away;

Fig. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of the magnet system with the electromagnet not under current and the armature in medial, or untilted position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, in which there is current for the electromagnet, which in looking down thereon is in a clockwise direction thru the winding coil, thereby to energize the system for the armature to tilt tothe down or closed position The magnets A permanent magnet I is shown with a south or negative pole 2 and a positive or north pole 3.y

An electromagnet is provided, which when not subjected to electric current flow, may have its base portion 4 operate as a keeper for the perma-k nent magnet I. Medially from thebase4 there rises poles 6, 1, by an energizing coil or winding 8 about the core, 5- Pins 9 in the core 5 rockably assemble medial dip portion IU therewith, to have slightly upwardly pitched free ends I I, I 2, of the armature in proximity to the electromagnet poles 6, 1. Rivets I3 in a short angle portion I4 which is integral with a finger I5, firmly lock the upstanding fiat finger I5 to be upright centrally of the armature I0, I I, I2. When neutral or inactive, that is, with the ends I I, I2, each away from the poles 6, 1, it is desirable to have the member I5 extended in the axial direction of the core 5.

a core 5, spaced from terminal parallely (Cl. F75-339) The assembly A non-magnetic sheet metal mounting element or base is provided of a general channel form comprising parallel vertical side portions or cheeks I5, I1 as the iianges with a top horizontal web or bridge portion I8 providing a spacing connection between the anges I6, I1. The portion I8 is not the full length of the flanges I6, I1, but, as the sides or flanges I6, I1, are against the U-shaped permanent magnet I, 2, 3, the portion I8 is in the plane of and flush with the top of the poles 2, 3, and therebetween. From the clearance region between the poles 2, 3, a screw I 9 extends upwardly thru the channel web I8 and base 4 to engage the core 5. The channel flanges I6, I1, have offset portions or ears 20 remote from and parallel to the web I8 with openings 2| to receive screws 22 for anchoring the unit.

The channel I6, I 8, I1 has open ends and is sufiiciently deeper than the magnet I, 2, 3, to permit flanges 23 to enter in the plane of the ears 20. From the flanges 23 a riser portion or strip 24 is a web, closing the channel ends. The strip 24 extends upwardly beyond the channel I6, I8, I1, and has therethru screws 25 engaging the respective poles 6, 1, of the electromagnet. These three non-magnetic sheet metal frame portions now provide the means for assembly of the permanent and temporary magnets into a unit.

The switches The web portion 24 in the region of the poles 6, 1, has flanges 26, thereby providing vertically extending channels open toward each other, which not only embrace the poles 6, 1, laterally, but extend upward and inward at legs 21 as beyond the webr24. Bolts 28, 29, thru switch block insulation housings 30 and non-magnetic sheet metal H-braces 3l, positively mount the housings 3B. Protruding from each of the housings 30, and on opposite sides of the finger I5, normally slightly spaced therefrom are plungers 32, yieldably outwardly positioned by springs 33. Thrusting of the plunger 32 in one housing 30, is effective to operate one control when conductor lines 34, 35, from the coil 8 provide for current flow in one direction, say clockwise downward (Fig. 5). Before the coil 8 is energized, the permanent magnet 3, I, 2, has permanent magnet iiux in the base 4 of density near saturation therefor in a positive direction from the portion 1 to the pole portion 6. Energizing of the coil 8 by current flow clockwise as looking down on the pole 5, establishes an electromagnetic fiux into the base 4 tending to flow toward the poles 7, 6. There is thus a tendency to increase the permeability of the base 4 toward the pole 7. The result is augmentation of the flux at the pole 7 thru the action of the temporary magnet supplementing the action of the permanent magnet. At the same time the flux from the energized pole 5, due to the clockwise direction of current ow in looking downward, in the base 4 -toward the pole S is opposite to and accordingly tends to reduce the permeability of the base portion 4 region toward the pole 6. The net result is that the increased permeability of the base 4 toward the pole 7 brings about a tilt action for the armature to pull the pole l2 toward the pole l with the pole II thereby having greater spacing from the pole 6. Reverse direction of the current iiow by other positioning of the reversing switch 35 from power supply lines 31, 38, brings about opposite rocking of the armature I0, l l, l2, to release the theretofore thrown plunger 32 for its automatic reset, and then to .depress the other plunger 32 against its spring 33. This reversal or opposite housing 39 control, is effected by the current ow in the electromagnet upward or counterclockwise (Fig. 6). The counterclockwise direction of current ow in the coil 8, as looking down on the pole 5, increases the permeability of the base portion 4 toward the poles 2, 6, while decreasing the permeability of the base portion 4 from the pole v5 ltoward the poles 3,1. Therefrom the armatured tilt is for the armature pole portion l l to be toward the pole 6, with resultant greater spacing of the armature portion l2 from the pole l. In the event the switch in the respective housings 39 be for changing from one circuit to another, there may be supply line 4.0 to be selectively connected from .one direction electromagnet operation `(Fig. 5). The companion or other housing 30, with its supply line 439 is responsive for the current ow to be changed from line 43 f to the line 44. Instead of the lines 39, 40, or either thereof being supply, they may be service lines. The service supplied by the line 40 may be from a source thru a line 4 l, or a line 42. The mounting of the armature unit l0, l l, l 2, including the nger l5 rigid therewith, as carried by the pole 5, while yieldable, is suiiiciently stable that at all positions of non-current in the electromagnet 5, 6, 7, the finger i5 is clear of contacting the plungers 32 on opposite sides and close thereto.

The inactive medial vor neutral tilt position for the rockable armature l0, l l, I2, with its upstanding arm l5, may be influenced to approximate central position between the microswitch housings 30, in response to the thrust of the plunger 32 as urged by its spring 33, at the electromagnet release therefor. The rockable armature may respond to being thrown by the electromagnet when the energizing of the electromagnet is such as different from that causing the last position throwing for the armature.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A polarized relay comprising a central magrie-tic vcore, a substantially U-shaped sheet metal yoke of magnetic material made up of a central member rigidly joined at its center to a rst end of the core and two parallel arms extending at 4 substantially right angles from opposite ends of the central member in the same direction as the core, the outer ends of the arms turned inwardly substantially coplanar with the second end of the core and parallel with the central member of the yoke, a flattened U-shaped rectangular polarizing permanent magnet of substantially the same length and width as the said central member and underlying 'and aligned therewith with 'the legs of the magnet in engagement with the central member adjacent the two arms of the yoke to oppositely magnetically polarize them, an energizing coil surrounding the core and closely enclosed by the sheet metal yoke member, and an armature pivotally mounted on the second end of the core with its outer ends overlying the ends of the yoke arms.

2. A polarized relay comprising a substantially U-shaped sheet metal yoke of magnetic material, said yoke embodying two parallel arms and a central member portion extending between the arms, said arms having inwardly turned ends remote from the yoke member portion, a iiattened U-shaped rectangular polarizing permanent magnet of substantially the same length and width -as said yoke central member portion, said magnet having legs in engagement with the yoke central member portion ends vopposite the arms and in alignment with the arms, a magnetic core rigidly joined with the yoke central member portion to extend medially between and spaced from the arms, an energizing coil surrounding the core and closely enclosed by the yoke, and an yarmature rockably mounted on the core remote from the yoke central member portion, said armature having ends in proximity to and spaced from the inturned ends of the yoke arms when the coil is de-energized, and in relay operation said armature being rockable on the core as Ia fulcrum, to engage one yoke arm inturned end upon energization through the coil in one direction, and beingr rockable to engage the other yoke arm inturned end upon energization `through the coil in the other direction.

C. FRANK MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the oi this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Apr. 29, 1932 Number 

